Canadian driver Bruno Spengler captured on Sunday his second victory of the season in the DTM series at the Nurburgring to extend his lead in the championship standing.
Spengler, driving the Mercedes-Benz Bank sponsored C-Class, started the race in second position behind Audi’s Mattias Ekstrom. When the lights turned to green, Spengler got a better start and slipped past the Swede before the first corner to take the lead.
Spengler made his two mandatory pit stops and remained in the lead during all 49 laps of the race. The Canadian crossed the line in first place, 2.8 seconds ahead of his HWA Mercedes’ teammates, Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett, in front of an impressive crowd of 86,000 spectators.
“It was a great race. The start was absolutely awesome,” said Spengler.
“I really focused on the starting lights. Then I just pushed hard and tried to keep the other guys behind me. That was a great feeling. This is Mercedes’ 100th victory since we have been racing against Audi.”
Two-time DTM series’ champion Timo Scheider (Audi) finished fourth, followed by Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz).
Ralf Schumacher and Maro Engel (both Mercedes-Benz) scored their first DTM points of the season by finishing sixth and eighth, respectively.
Mattias Ekstrom (Audi) was 7th ahead of Engel, Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and former Red Bull Formula 1 driver, David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz).
Spengler is now comfortably leading the point standings with an advantage of 16 points over Green.
The next race will be held in Zandvoort, Netherlands, on August 22.
Drivers’ championhip after 5 races (6 to go)
1.Spengler, 42 points
2.Green, 26
3.Paffett, 25
4.Di Resta, 25
5.Ekstrom, 23
Spengler, driving the Mercedes-Benz Bank sponsored C-Class, started the race in second position behind Audi’s Mattias Ekstrom. When the lights turned to green, Spengler got a better start and slipped past the Swede before the first corner to take the lead.
Spengler made his two mandatory pit stops and remained in the lead during all 49 laps of the race. The Canadian crossed the line in first place, 2.8 seconds ahead of his HWA Mercedes’ teammates, Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett, in front of an impressive crowd of 86,000 spectators.
“It was a great race. The start was absolutely awesome,” said Spengler.
“I really focused on the starting lights. Then I just pushed hard and tried to keep the other guys behind me. That was a great feeling. This is Mercedes’ 100th victory since we have been racing against Audi.”
Two-time DTM series’ champion Timo Scheider (Audi) finished fourth, followed by Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz).
Ralf Schumacher and Maro Engel (both Mercedes-Benz) scored their first DTM points of the season by finishing sixth and eighth, respectively.
Mattias Ekstrom (Audi) was 7th ahead of Engel, Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and former Red Bull Formula 1 driver, David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz).
Spengler is now comfortably leading the point standings with an advantage of 16 points over Green.
The next race will be held in Zandvoort, Netherlands, on August 22.
Drivers’ championhip after 5 races (6 to go)
1.Spengler, 42 points
2.Green, 26
3.Paffett, 25
4.Di Resta, 25
5.Ekstrom, 23